A man who claimed to be a staff of the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company, AEDC, has been apprehended by officials of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC.
Commandant of NSCDC, FCT Division, Patrick Ukpan, told newsmen on Sunday that the suspect, Anthony Adeoye, was arrested in Lugbe Area of Abuja, following a tip-off.
According to Ukpan, Adeoye, who identified himself as AEDC staff, had in his possession forged identity card and fake AEDC forms.
He also said the suspect distributes AEDC forms to unsuspecting members of the public in order to extort money from them.
Ukpan disclosed that Adeoye was extorting money from the public with intent of providing AEDC facilities like electricity meter.
He called on members of the public to always look out for criminal minded people who were in the habit of impersonating government agencies or companies to commit criminal activities.
He said: “When they start making demands, and you feel that you are not comfortable with what they are saying, please make enquiries and report to the proper agencies.”
He said the suspect would be properly investigated and prosecuted subsequently, adding that AEDC had confirmed that the suspect was not a member of its staff.
Reacting to his arrest, Adeoye said he was not in the business of extorting money from people, but he was a former staff of Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN).
He said he was disengaged from the service when he had an industrial accident and he had not been paid his entitlement.
He said: “I had an accident when I fell down from the pole, the defunct PHCN did not pay my entitlement, and pension after my several request.”
The Head of Public Relations Officer and Media of AEDC, Mr Ahmed Shakarau, said the forms and identity card presented by the suspect were forged.
He said the AEDC had given approval to law enforcement agencies to prosecute the suspect, adding that he was not a staff of AEDC.
